The Bakong, built in the late 9th century C.E. is the state temple of Indravarman I, the central and largest of the three ancient sandstone and brick temples known as the "Rolous Group" in what was the first capital city of"classical" Khmer kingdom (not yet an empire), Hariharalya. The temple('s linga) was consecrated in 881.
It is quite large--900m x 700m, including two moats and three cocentric enclosures. The central pyramid of five levels is modeled on the Hindu mythical Mount Meru. The base of the pyramid is 65m x 67m, the top level 20m x 18m. The tower is of later date (Angkor Wat style).
The distance from level to level diminishes (that is, the longest climb is the first one, the shortest the top one) and the guardian elephants (which have lost their trunks and now look to me more like bears than elephants) also diminish in size from lowest to highest. These means make the tower look higher than it is when seen from below--which is the only perspective anyone but kings and high priests would have had. Khmer temples were built for the gods (the Bakong for Shiva), not for believers to assemble and worship the gods.
The temple was reconstructed by French archaeologists during the 1930w
On my recent visit to Cambodia (based at Siem Reap, 13 km west), we arrived just before dusk. As is generally the case in the tropics, night falls quickly without colorful setting-sun displays, My only sunset shot has the sun beside rather than behind the central pyramid and tower.
Lolei was dedicated in 893 C.E. It was an island temple in the Indratataka baray (reservoir) that was 3800m x 800m. The temple's terrace (which is surrounded by dry land now) is 90m x 80m. The towers look like other Khmer towers, and I have only included two details here. The capital was moved from Hariharalya to Angkor Thom to the northwest.
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